Sabres Likely To Split From AHL Rochester Affiliate

Sabres Owner Tom Golisano said that the 29-year player development partnership between the NHL franchise and the AHL Rochester Americans "no longer seems possible," according to Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE. Golisano is "clearly frustrated by the [Americans'] ongoing financial ailment," as a Rochester city audit reports the team has debts of about $1.8M. Golisano said, "I think it may be too late." Golisano added the Americans' financial situation "affects their attendance, our attendance. We think it affects our players' morale (in Rochester)." Americans minority owner Randall Latona this spring sued the team to have Americans President Steve Donner "removed from a position of power within the organization," but on November 16 a New York state Supreme Court judge ruled against Latona. The Sabres were the Americans' sole parent team through the '04-05 season, but are now in the third year of sharing the affiliate with the Panthers. Donner indicated that if the Sabres cut ties, the Americans "will still operate." Oklobzija noted the Panthers are "the leading candidate to become the sole parent team" (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 11/28). AHL President & CEO Dave Andrews said that even if the Sabres end their affiliation with the Americans, the league will "continue to operate" in Rochester. Andrews said that he "is always willing to serve as a moderator, but affiliations regularly end in the league and [he] is not necessarily urging the parties to stay together" (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 11/29).